by Adriana Noir
A small tremble ran through him. Images of Taylor flashed before his eyes, and for a brief second he wondered if it would end up being the last time he saw her. His stomach clenched as one of the men reached back and drew a gun from his waistband. The lanky pair flanking him started to do the same. This was it. The world started to unfurl in slow motion.
“On three,” he whispered.
Sebastian grabbed the door handle. He counted without thought, his mouth dry and parched. On the count of three, they both sprung from the car. Bright flashes detonated a few feet away and the silence was shattered with a rapid hail of gunfire. Glass blew around them in an outward spray. Sparks flew from the car as it rocked beneath a steady barrage of bullets. The ricochet of metal off metal was deafening. His heart pounded as he hit the ground and crawled under the car to join Josh on the other side. His partner glanced down with a wince, clutching his upper arm.
“Were you hit?”
“No. It’s nothing, just some glass.”
Sebastian nodded, his eyes darting to the line of railroad cars and truck trailers. They would at least offer some shield on the way to the road. His heart skidded to a halt in his chest as more shouts joined the fray. A bullet passed too close for comfort setting off a dull ring in his ear. The world droned in and out around him. Jerking his head toward the cluster of rusted metal, he motioned for Josh to run. Reluctance shone in his partner’s blue stare.
“Go. I’ll cover you.”
“Baas…”
“Go!” he snapped.
He winced, ducking his head for a second as a semiautomatic rifle sent pieces of the car shooting past him. His shoulders heaved as he drew several steadying breaths. Pursing his lips together, he raised his weapon and stepped out from behind the car. The first shot caught one of the gunmen square in the chest. He hit the ground, a rapid stain soaking the front of his shirt. Sebastian fired again, catching another between the eyes. The outward spray of blood and brain halted the men beside him for just a second. In the distance, he could hear the chopper closing in. Vince was shouting something about the rally point in his ear. His breath bordered on hyperventilation as he picked off a third shooter and dove back behind the car. Bracing his back against the door, he jammed his fist against his head and waited.
They weren’t closing in the way he’d expected. Most of the bullets weren’t even hitting where he sat bunkered against the car. A cold chill ran through him as Sebastian realized why. They’d given up on hitting him and were concentrating on penetrating the gas tank. His shoulders shook with embittered laughter. He had to give it to them—that was one way to flush him out. Most likely in pieces.
“Bravo, tell me you made it,” he said, pressing his earpiece deeper.
“Affirmative. Where the hell are you?”
Sebastian closed his eyes. Trapped. Pinned down in a bad spot with no way to escape. He’d always prided himself on being an honest man, but now wasn’t the time. The truth would only draw Josh out and get them both killed.
“Don’t worry about me. I’m right behind you.” He waited until there was a pause in gunfire before speaking again. He could only assume they were reloading. “Get to the rally. If I’m not there in six, leave without me.”
“I’m not going anywhere without you. You get your ass there, you hear me?”
He sighed softly. “I hear you.”
“We did good today, right?”
He felt a pang of sorrow hearing the uncertainty and hope in his partner’s voice. Shutting down the unwanted rush of emotion, he dropped his chin against his chest. The gunfire picked up with renewed intensity. The car jerked against his back. He couldn’t risk letting Josh hear his position, but he responded in a quiet murmur to himself. “Yeah, buddy. We did.”
A jolt of pain rocketed through his shoulder, snapping him to his senses and igniting his rage. He snorted with agony, his eyes darting to the line of trailers. Reaching behind him, he fingered the sharp shard of metal jutting from his back. It was better than a bullet. Biting back a cry, he wrenched it free and hurled it to the ground. The sight of his blood glistening back at him only served to fuel his anger. Wincing, he jerked his second weapon free and edged toward the front of the car. Taking that path was a longer run, but there was no way he could come around the back where their attention remained focused. Another bullet or two and the car would blow. It was better to go down fighting than stay trapped like a rat on a sinking ship. He owed himself, his team, and his family that much.
Dimly, he wondered what had happened to Sector Two and if they had made it out okay. He could barely hear the radio in his ear over the pounding of his heart and the gunfire. Even his breathing was unnaturally loud as he tried to focus on his training and draw off his instincts. Taking one more deep breath, he closed his eyes, counted to two, and ran. His first plan had been to go backwards and fire off shots as he went. The terrifying frenzy of bullets chasing after him changed his mind. Dirt and rocks flew up, pelting his legs. A shot to the side of his bulletproof vest almost brought him to his knees. The pain was enough that he wondered if it went clean through. Another bullet whizzed past, clipping the edge of his ear.
Darting between the blue plastic barrels lined up through the yard, he kept his eye on the road. A cold prickle stirred on his nape. Cold enough to turn his blood to ice. Cursing, he dove into the open slit of one of the railroad cars. Bullets pinged off the sides, and a chunk of blue plastic flew past and his heart skidded. He’d escaped one explosion only to set himself up for another. A slow crackle erupted from the barrel, sending an electric ripple across his skin. Roaring with pain and frustration, Sebastian fought to slam the metal doors shut.
Fire rushed through the open crack and his world exploded. The car jolted upward with the blast and rolled. Rocked off his feet, he slammed against the far wall and tumbled end over end. A hellish eternity passed before everything stopped and stilled. Gasping for breath, Sebastian blinked against the darkness. His eardrums pulsed in and out with the world around him and a high-pitched ringing flooded his skull, making him wince. He struggled to sit up, to move, but bit-by-bit his surroundings and the pain started to fade away. The pull of his eyelids became too much. His chest rose and fell slowly. One… two… three…then, he felt no more.
It started with a pained gasp and spread into a violent cough that made his chest and ribs throb. Struggling to sit up, Sebastian fought against the straps holding him down. He bucked violently against the restraints, panic stabbing clear through to his core. His eyes flew open and slammed back shut against the bright, intrusive glare.
“Easy, Baas.”
His chest jerked at the familiar sound of his partner’s voice. Letting out a huge sigh of relief, he sagged back down against the bed and slit his eyes open. It was hard to focus, and for a minute, he saw double. Running his tongue over his parched lips, he tilted his head toward his arms.
“Untie me,” he said in a hoarse rasp.
“I can’t do that, partner. Not yet.”
He nodded in mute understanding, his gaze shifting to the ceiling as a cold ball of dread coiled in his stomach. Strips of fluorescent lights dangled from the metal rafters overhead along with a more concentrated round, metallic spotlight. He’d seen them enough times before to know where he was. Closing his eyes, he supposed the infirmary was better than the reconditioning room. Maybe. The straps raised some serious concerns, given the fact that no one else but Josh was around. Maybe Marx just wanted him alive and conscious enough to endure whatever he had coming. Turning his head to look at his partner, Sebastian frowned.
“What happened?”
“I couldn’t get you on the radio. After the explosion, we looped back around. Sector Two was trying to hold them off and keep them clear of the railroad car. I guess Laychee’s thugs didn’t want to play anymore once we opened up the helicopter gunners on them.”
Sebastian groaned and forced a swallow past his raw throat. “What a mess.”
“Yeah, Baas.
It was, but we got you out. That’s all that matters.”
He grunted and shook his head. That clusterfuck was going to make the news, which was going to make Marx very, very unhappy. The thought flooded him with panic that quickly turned to rage. His eyes flew to Josh’s. “Go home. Get my sister and sit with Taylor. Please.”
Josh shook his head. “I won’t leave you like this, Baas.”
“I don’t want you here. Go.”
“They’re going to want to know where you are. What the hell do I tell them?”
Hurt and frustration rode Josh’s angular features and strained his voice. Sebastian turned his face away.
“The truth. Tell them I was held up. I’ll be home soon.”
It hurt to talk. He was grateful when Josh stood and strode from the room, even if he did depart with a slam of the door that made Sebastian’s head pound. Clenching his teeth against the pain, he battled with the restraints a while longer until bruises circled his wrists and he was too tired to move. The day was one long repeating cycle of jumping out of one hell just to land in another. Numb, he wondered if he would ever make it home again. Blowing out a deep breath, he studied the white cinderblock walls. They’d been painted to a glossy sheen that matched the smooth linoleum floor, except where splotches of dried blood stained the tiles, both his and others. His gaze darted to the stainless steel workbench spanning one wall of the room and the mobile trays housing various medical utensils. They hadn’t even moved him into the more comfortable recovery sector.
A grating noise flooded the room and he snapped his head round to watch as Marx pushed his way into the room. His massive shoulders all but filled the wide doorway. The dark ebony pits of his eyes locked with Sebastian’s as he crossed the room and dropped into the seat beside the bed.
“So tell me—how does it feel to dance with death, Agent Baas?”
His eyes narrowed as Sebastian tried to figure out the man’s angle. He forced his attention to the ceiling with a wry smile. “Painful.”
“I bet it is,” Marx drawled. “So is the chaos you and your team stirred up today.” Sitting back, he rested his hands on the broad span of his thighs. His sausage-sized fingers drummed an impatient beat. “I’m waiting.”
Sebastian sighed. “Vince stepped away to piss. The next thing I knew, an SUV was barreling up our ass.”
“So this is his fault?” Marx pressed, a thick eyebrow lifting in question.
“It’s my team. It’s my responsibility.”
The director nodded. “The driver wasn’t Armando Soeleze, which is a very fortunate thing for you considering he’s dead. It was his younger brother, Pablo.”
“Great,” Sebastian muttered beneath his breath. “Now I’ll have two psychopaths after me for the same damn thing. Maybe they can join forces and blow Arizona clear off the map.”
Marx patted his shoulder. “I don’t think it’s going to come to that. The Soeleze boys were extremely close. Armando will want to claim his brother’s body and bury him. He’ll want that closure.”
For the first time in hours, hope flooded him. “The BATF will pick him up then?”
The commander donned a wide smile. “That they will. No one is without a weakness, Sebastian. If you look hard enough, even the toughest most coldhearted son-of-a-bitch will have at least one vulnerable point.”
A cold smirk played on his lips. “So what’s yours?”
Marx threw his head back. His enormous body shook with a deep belly laugh. The dark pools of his eyes shone as he leaned forward to clap Sebastian on the shoulder. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” he asked, still bearing the traces of his grin. “Perhaps one day, you will figure it out, but again, today is not that day.” The humor slowly ebbed from his countenance and the big man sighed. “You may find this hard to believe, but I’m fond of you, Sebastian. You remind me of myself at your age in a lot of ways.”
Laughter threatened, making him cough. He grimaced against a sharp wave of pain. “Sure, Marx, just keep kicking me when I’m down.”
The director gave a terse smile. “It’s true. You have ambition, drive, and fire. You’re not afraid to get your hands dirty nor do what needs done. Whether you admit it to yourself or not, some secret part of you loves this job. The hunt, the challenge, it’s all a part of the game for you. This is what you were born to do. I’ve been with this organization for a long time, and no one in all of my twenty-three years with SKALS has done it better. You and your partner are one hell of a team.”
His jaw tightened at the compliment. “This is where the other shoe drops,” he stated quietly.
“No, Baas,” Marx said with a slow shake of his head. “Believe it or not, I was being sincere.”
“You will have to excuse me if I don’t mark that one on the calendar. My hands are a little tied at the moment.”
The director’s deep laughter rolled through the room. “That they are.” He cracked his thick knuckles with a series of sharp pops. “Tell me what you plan to do with Vince.”
“You might be better off asking me when I’m not strapped to a gurney and in pain.”
“I’m asking you now,” Marx said pointedly.
“As much as I would love to kill him at the moment, when you have to go, you have to go. He usually serves this team well.” His lips quirked with a brief bid of amusement. “Josh suggested a catheter. While the thought amuses me, Vince and our team would be better served with a reminder that a heads up is not too much to ask. Regardless of personal discomforts, the safety and success of a mission come first.”
“Yet they didn’t. It was almost lights out for you tonight and your mission was a bust.”
“Was it?” Sebastian asked softly. “We have a strong lead on one of the world’s biggest weapons dealers. Give him a week in the reconditioning cell. That should help Vince get his head on straight and give Josh and me time enough to cool down and keep from blowing it off.” He turned his head, his pale stare locking with the director’s. “The bastard owes me a new car, too.”
Marx nodded and patted his arm. “We’ll transfer the funds. Get some rest, Sebastian. You’ll get to go home soon enough.”
Chapter 7 ~
Taylor paced the kitchen, her stomach twisting. She chewed the jagged edge of her thumbnail, her gaze flickering to Josh and Monique as they sat at the table in the morning room. He’d tried to tell her Sebastian was okay, but the stress and worry lining his face claimed otherwise. The usually stunning blonde at his side bore the same troubled expression and her eyes were bloodshot and red from crying or a lack of sleep. Quite possibly both. Either way, she refused to look Taylor’s way for more than a few seconds at a time. Frustration wound through her frame, adding to her exhaustion and pain. She hadn’t slept much before the call came in, and after Sebastian left, she hadn’t slept at all. Pouring herself another cup of coffee, she turned her gaze out the window, her stare tracking the security team before shifting to the couple sitting at the table. She frowned, her mind spinning. He left her home alone while he was working all the time. What made now so different?
She whirled at the sound of keys in the front door. Hot coffee sloshed over the top of her hand, drawing a startled curse from her lips. Clamping a hand over her mouth, her eyes darted to Josh in apology as she hurried to set her mug on the counter. He offered a wan smile and eased to his feet. His obvious stiffness and discomfort only added to her concern. Rushing down the hall to the foyer, she froze as she spotted Sebastian. A pained grimace rode his face as he pulled the doors shut behind him and lifted his head. Bruises mottled his beautiful face, and a deep scratch carved a furrow between his eyebrows. Stitches stood out on the ridge of his right ear, and he looked like he hadn’t slept in a week. Her expression crumpled and she fought back a sob. Anguish darkened his eyes as he shook his head.
“Shh, baby, no. It’s okay. Everything’s all right, darling,” he soothed, opening one arm to her.
She gingerly stepped into his embrace, letting him guide her. Resting he
r face against his shoulder, she tentatively ran a hand over his back. Her heart broke at the strained rasp of his voice and the way he shook ever so slightly against her. He pressed his lips against her temple for a long moment, before easing her to his side. He kept his arm draped around her shoulders, though it was hard to say if it was for support or the urge to be close. His steps were measured, but steady, as he made his way toward the back of the house.
Monique surged to her feet the minute they stepped into the area between the great room and the kitchen. Wringing her hands, the blonde regarded her brother with an open mixture of pity and concern.
“Sebastian.” His name left her lips in a tremulous waver.
“I’m all right, Monique,” he said softly. “Just a little sore. I’ll be fine.”
Taylor watched as he motioned his sister forward and palmed the side of her face in a tender gesture. For a moment, the blonde closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. When he dropped his hand, she straightened and Sebastian shifted his attention to Josh with a slight nod.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“It was no problem, Baas. You good? You need anything?”
“Just rest.”
“Okay. We’ll get out of here.” Josh hesitated for a moment and raked a hand over his short, dark hair. “What are you going to do for a car?”
“It’s taken care of, thank you.”
Taylor listened to a brief exchange of goodbyes and showed the couple out the front doors. After locking them and setting the alarm, she wandered back into the kitchen to find Sebastian looking out the windows. He hadn’t moved. Despite the rigid set of his shoulders, he looked lost. Creeping up beside him, she ran her fingers over the sculpted ridge of his cheekbone. Her heart swelled when he rewarded her with a tired grin. Guiding her hand to his lips, he kissed her fingers.
“Are you hungry?” she asked.
“No, baby. They fed me on the way home. Did you eat?”